A very quick write-up on this.
I've always liked the TR130 and eventually I was able to find a good one. In particular it is the version with bandspread and 'Caroline' on the dial. There was nothing much to do with this particular sample, the only thing that didn't work was the tone control. The circuit for the bandspread version has some differences and I couldn't find an exact version on-line. However Cathovisor came to the rescue and supplied me with a manufacturers manual of the correct version. It was soon obvious why the tone control didn't work. C19 had been removed. That's the cap in series with the tone control (0.47uF). I didn't have a 0.47uF of the right size but I did have a 0.68uF that fitted in the space perfectly. It would have to do! Once fitted, it became clear why the control had been disconnected. It was a case of maximum treble cut or maximum treble! The pot was basically open circuit except in just a few places. It's a small 10k pot wired as a variable resistor and I didn't have anything suitable so I decided to take the pot apart and see if it could be salvaged.
The pot came apart easily after bending the retaining tabs. It was all in one piece inside but the slider contacts were black. The track measured 11.5k so it was OK electrically. I gave it a squirt of switch cleaner and carefully worked the control a few times. The main wiper had good contact on the track so I used a drop more switch cleaner on the slider contacts (they are the ones that connect the track wiper to the centre contact of the pot). I then reassembled the pot and did a resistance check. All looked good and the resistance changed smoothly from a few hundred ohms to just over 11k. I refitted the pot and gave it a test. The control worked perfectly with smooth action.
I have to say I'm very impressed with the sound quality of this little radio. It has to be one of the best in its class. Caroline is received particularly well and sounds good. It's a pity they are not still on 199 so that I could use the bandspread 'Caroline'!
The radio still has its original AF117's fitted. It doesn't look like any work has ever been done.
Hi Rich,
glad to see the manual helped! I'll scan both the original and bandspread model manuals at some point and place them in the library here, if Chris is happy?
It has to be said that for the terrible reputation that the AF11x family has, I am yet to encounter a TR130 that has been rendered deaf/dead by them - all have sprung into life as soon as a PP9 has been connected to them.
I'm using my last PP9. I have some AA adaptors to use when the PP9 finally runs out. The price of new PP9's has become somewhat prohibitive especially for a radio that won't have heavy use. 6 AA's will last longer and are cheaper.
Further to my comment about sound quality, a very enjoyable two hours listening to Caroline this morning. Careful positioning of the ferrite aerial allows me to null out a lot of the local hash and careful use of the now functioning tone control gives very satisfactory reception. Caroline sounds particularly good. I would put this little radio on par with the Hacker for MW sound quality. It's heaps better than the 'fake' TR130 that I have.
I have emptied flat PP9s and fitted two battery clips for PP3s in parallel, even the £1 shop Panasonic ones last well. On a set I use a lot I have fitted two rechargeable PP3s. A diode in series drops the voltage back to 9V for when the batteries are fully charged. I secured the lid of the PP9 with a bit of Sellotape as the PP3s have to be removed to charge them.
My view of the modern repros of the TR82 and TR130 were that they'd have Gilbert Darnley-Smith and Ted Harrison turning in their graves.
I agree the original Bush TR82/130 radios were very good and gave very little trouble in their service life.
Frank
